Acclaimed pianist and distinguished alumna to perform solo recital

KALAMAZOO—Barbara Lieurance will perform a solo piano recital to open the Western Michigan University Distinguished Alumni Concert Series at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, in the Dalton Center Recital Hall.

Lieurance will perform the compositional tour-de-force "Rhapsodies," by School of Music Resident Composer C. Curtis-Smith, the first piece ever to be written for bowed piano. Piano bows are made of monofilament fishing line and allow the pianist to stroke rather than hit the strings, creating fresh new sounds.The program will also include the jazzy Russian music of Sofia Gubaidulina and a new commission by Canadian composer John Oliver, inspired by "Rhapsodies."

Barbara Lieurance

New York’s Metroland writes that Lieurance “wowed audiences” and the Main Sunday Telegram notes that “at the end of the concert, Ms. Lieurance had ... the audience standing.” Known for her innovative performances and her daring programming, Lieurance brings new music to concert halls around North America and Europe. Recently she traveled to Switzerland to perform solo piano and chamber works of Meinrad Schütter in a festival celebrating the 100th anniversary of his birth. Last season she appeared at the Banff Centre for the Arts in Canada as part of an artist residency.

A guest artist for the Irving S. Gilmore International Keyboard Festival, Lieurance performed two tours with their Keys to Education Program, bringing avant-garde music to hundreds of schoolchildren in Michigan. She is also a founding member of the new music trio Antares Project, whose activities this season include performances in Boston and a tour in Germany, where they will premiere two new commissions written for the group.

For more information about Lieurance visit lieurance.com.